Kraft said it wanted to create "a global powerhouse in snacks, confectionery and quick meals".

As well as Dairy Milk, Cadbury also owns the Green & Black's chocolate brand and Halls lozenges, Trident and Dentyne gum brands, and liquorice allsorts maker Bassett's. It spun off its drinks division as a separate business last year.

It is seeing much of its growth in emerging markets such as India and Russia.

And Cadbury said its "strong brands, unique category and geographic scope" left it confident of its future as a standalone firm.

Distribution savings

Kraft's brands include Kenco and Maxwell House coffee, Oreo biscuits, Jacobs, Terry's Chocolate Orange and Toblerone as well as cheese products such as Philadelphia and Dairylea.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

"It's part of England's heritage" - reaction from the streets of Bournville

The proposed deal would allow up to $625m a year to be saved in distribution, marketing and product development costs, Kraft said.

Cadbury's brands were "highly complementary" to its portfolio, it added, saying that the UK firm "would benefit from Kraft Foods' global scope and scale and array of proprietary technologies and processes".

"As we have done, Cadbury has built wonderful brands by focusing on quality, innovation and marketing, but we believe the next stage in Cadbury's development will be challenging, given the increased importance of scale in the industry," said Kraft chairman Irene Rosenfeld.

KRAFT FOODS

Founded in Illinois as a cheese wholesaler in 1903

Bought by Philip Morris in 1988, which also purchased Nabisco for $19.2bn in 2000 before integrating it into Kraft Foods

More than 40 of its brands are more than 100 years old

Has 98,000 employees and 168 manufacturing and processing facilities worldwide

"We are eager to build upon Cadbury's iconic brands and strong British heritage through increased investment and innovation. We have great respect and admiration for Cadbury, its employees, its leadership and its proud heritage."

'Iconic brands'

Industry analysts have been speculating that there could be consolidation in the food sector. Evolution Securities said that Nestle and Hershey could come together to make a counter-bid for Cadbury, with Nestle taking on the chewing gum business and Hershey running the chocolate division.

Kraft said its possible offer - based on paying 745 pence for every Cadbury share - was a 31% premium to its closing price last week and 42% more than the firm's shares were worth in early July, when speculation about possible deals in the sector intensified.

In a letter to Cadbury's, Ms Rosenfeld said it would be able to continue to operate its Somerdale factory in Keynsham, near Bristol, which is set to be closed, and also invest in its plant in Bournville, Birmingham, "thereby preserving UK manufacturing jobs".

Last year Cadbury announced plans to slash 15% of its workforce and factory numbers worldwide - equivalent to 7,800 jobs - as it looked to cut costs.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.